HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-22 Public Comment - J. Rendle - R4 ZoningFrom:CrackerJack
To:Agenda
Subject:R4 Zoning
Date:Monday, February 7, 2022 9:19:09 PM
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I appreciated that two Zoning Board/CDB members recently voted to not recommend the
approval of rezoning for project #21-356. I agree with their opinion. I appreciate what
Commissioner Madgic said about having discretion with zoning choices. We can leave
housing pockets in the traditional core area. While I know that the city will naturally spread
out in all directions, I think we have to hang on tight to zonings that are most friendly to
affordable and attainable housing- which are R2, R3, and R4. These zonings best support
the problem that the city commission says is one of the most urgent- housing opportunities.
We need housing for existing employees and residents, not more commercial. Residential
zoning R4 blends in perfectly with B3 and I disagree with the idea that having those two
zonings on one block will be problematic. Think of cool old Brownstones or apartment
buildings that are in other urban downtowns and the nice variety they bring to a commercial
district. It is a developer's spin to say that R4 and B3 are not compatible. The beauty of R4
downtown is that its uses are limited to owner occupied housing and do not allow for non-
owner occupied short term rentals. These Type-3 STRs along with luxury condos and
apartments will be the demise of the character of Bozeman- downtown and elsewhere. I
think anything over R3 is a greater risk for luxury apartments but B2, B2-M, B3 zonings are
even more so because of their allowable use of Type 3 STRs. If we continue to lose R3 and
R4 zoning in the downtown area, we risk the historic downtown area becoming largely a
collection of luxury apartments, restaurants, hotels, and expensive shops. This can make
for a sterile "anywhere USA" environment as the balance shifts from mixed residential to
mostly commercial as well as an environment that caters to wealthy visiting individuals. I
believe a healthy downtown needs mainstream people living there of all income levels.
Keeping R4 zoning in place for housing is one way to do that. Please keep the housing
friendly zoning of R4 on this block and vote no to this zoning change request.